Chapter 60: The Birth of KHAGMAS
For three weeks, the Heroes' Lair had celebrated.
The corruption that had haunted the city for years was gone.
The skies were clear.
Children laughed in the streets once again.
Markets reopened.
Families reunited.
For the first time in a very long while...
There was hope.
The Heroes' Lair held a grand celebration unlike any before.
Colorful banners hung from every tower.
Music echoed through the city.
Great feasts filled the central plaza.
Warriors who had survived the battle laughed together, sharing stories that only days before they thought they would never live to tell.
Commander Pius stood upon the central balcony overlooking the celebration.
Beside him stood Lee Kung, Lee Kang, Mia, Sio Jun, Harris, and Gin Morino.
Pius smiled.
"You've earned this."
Lee Kung looked across the city.
"I still can't believe it's over."
"It isn't," Commander Pius replied.
Lee Kung turned toward him.
"What do you mean?"
"The battle here is over."
He looked toward the horizon.
"But the Realms..."
"They're still broken."
Silence settled over the group.
Everyone knew he was right.
Thousands of people had been saved.
But eight other realms still waited.
Still suffered.
Still needed balance.
That evening the celebration continued long into the night.
Harris challenged Gin to another sparring match.
This time neither of them held back.
Their laughter echoed throughout the training grounds.
Mia smiled as she watched them.
Sio Jun quietly sat beneath a tree.
For the first time since her exile...
She finally felt at peace.
Lee Kang stood beside Lee Kung.
The twins watched the sunset together.
"I never thought I'd see another sunset."
Lee Kang admitted quietly.
Lee Kung smiled.
"You'll see many more."
"I'm still not sure I deserve them."
"You don't."
Lee Kang looked surprised.
Lee Kung chuckled.
"You earn them."
"And you're already trying."
His brother smiled.
"Thanks."
The following morning...
Commander Pius summoned everyone to the main command chamber.
The atmosphere had changed.
This was no longer a celebration.
It was a farewell.
Commander Pius stood before a large circular platform.
Resting upon it was a small metallic device covered in glowing blue runes.
It was shaped like a triangular core with mechanical rings surrounding it.
Lee Kung looked curious.
"What is it?"
Commander Pius carefully picked it up.
"This..."
"...is a Realm Constructor."
Everyone looked confused.
"It was designed by the Heroes of the Future."
He placed it into Lee Kung's hands.
"It carries the blueprints of an entire fortress."
Lee Kang examined it.
"That small thing?"
Commander Pius smiled.
"It won't stay small."
He activated a hologram.
"When you return to Ancient Azura..."
"Find stable ground."
"Place the device there."
He pointed toward Lee Kung.
"Then sprinkle your Dragon blood upon it."
Lee Kung nodded.
"And then?"
Commander Pius smiled.
"You'll see."
He looked at all of them.
"The future cannot directly interfere with the past."
"But..."
"We can leave knowledge."
"This fortress contains centuries of research."
"Medicine."
"Engineering."
"Magic."
"Architecture."
"Combat."
"Agriculture."
"It will help Azura rebuild."
Mia smiled.
"So we're bringing hope home."
Commander Pius nodded.
"Exactly."
He walked toward each of them.
First Harris.
He embraced him.
"You've become a true Guardian."
Harris smiled.
"I'll protect this era."
Then Gin.
Commander Pius extended his hand.
Gin hesitated before shaking it.
"You deserve a second chance."
Gin lowered his head.
"I won't waste it."
Sio Jun stepped forward.
Commander Pius smiled warmly.
"The Wolf Realm will need its Queen someday."
She blinked.
"...Queen?"
He only smiled.
Lee Kang bowed respectfully.
"Thank you..."
"For believing I could change."
Commander Pius simply placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Your brother believed first."
Finally...
He stood before Lee Kung.
For a long moment...
Neither spoke.
Then Commander Pius saluted.
"Hero."
Lee Kung immediately returned the salute.
"Commander."
The two smiled.
No more words were needed.
Outside the Heroes' Lair...
A massive portal platform had already been prepared.
The morning sun bathed everything in warm golden light.
Harris suddenly stepped forward.
"So..."
"This is goodbye?"
Lee Kung shook his head.
"No."
"It's..."
"See you later."
Gin laughed.
"I like that better."
Mia hugged Harris tightly.
"You'd better visit."
"I will."
Sio Jun smiled at Gin.
"And don't become evil again."
Gin raised both hands.
"I think one lifetime of that was enough."
Everyone laughed.
The moment became lighter.
Lee Kang embraced Harris.
"Take care of everyone."
"You too."
The group slowly walked toward the portal platform.
Lee Kung drew the Dragon Emperor Blade.
The sword immediately began vibrating.
A brilliant green light flowed across its blade.
The ancient runes awakened once more.
The sword seemed excited.
"It knows," Lee Kung whispered.
"It knows we're going home."
He slowly raised the blade.
Red and green energy wrapped around it simultaneously.
Then—
He slashed once.
The fabric of reality tore apart.
A glowing crack appeared before them.
He slashed again.
The crack expanded into a massive portal.
Beyond it...
Ancient Azura waited.
Lee Kung looked back one final time.
"So long."
Commander Pius smiled.
"Balance the Realms."
"We will."
Without hesitation...
Lee Kung stepped through.
Followed by Mia.
Sio Jun.
Lee Kang.
The portal closed behind them.
Silence returned.
Moments later...
The four emerged beneath the bright blue sky of Ancient Azura.
Warm wind brushed against their faces.
Birds sang overhead.
The scent of ancient forests surrounded them.
Lee Kung smiled.
"We're home."
Mia stretched happily.
"It feels different."
Lee Kang took a deep breath.
"I never thought I'd see this place again."
Sio Jun quietly smiled.
"The air..."
"It smells alive."
Then—
THUNK!
Something struck Lee Kung squarely on the head.
"Ow!"
He rubbed his forehead.
"What was—"
He turned around.
A familiar voice burst into laughter.
"Took you long enough!"
Lee Kung froze.
"...Armin?"
Standing several meters away was Armin.
Completely unharmed.
Beside him floated the tiny Time Fairy, giggling uncontrollably.
"You actually hit him."
"I couldn't resist," the fairy laughed.
Before another word could be spoken...
Armin ran forward.
Lee Kung met him halfway.
The two embraced tightly.
Lee Kang joined them.
Mia laughed.
Even Sio Jun smiled.
For several minutes...
No one wanted to let go.
Finally...
Lee Kung remembered the device.
"Oh!"
He reached into his pouch.
"The Realm Constructor."
Commander Pius' instructions echoed in his mind.
He searched until he found an open plain overlooking Ancient Azura.
"This should work."
He carefully placed the small triangular device upon the ground.
It remained perfectly still.
Nothing happened.
Lee Kung drew a dagger.
A small cut appeared across his palm.
Several drops of Dragon blood fell onto the device.
For a second...
Nothing happened.
Then—
BEEP.
Blue light appeared.
Mechanical rings began rotating.
The earth trembled.
The tiny device sank into the ground.
Everyone stepped backward.
"What is it doing?"
Mia whispered.
Suddenly—
The ground exploded upward.
Massive metallic structures erupted from beneath the earth.
Tower after tower rose into the sky.
Walls unfolded like giant machines.
Bridges extended automatically.
Crystal-powered generators activated.
Ancient stone fused perfectly with futuristic metal.
Magic circles ignited throughout the structure.
Windows formed.
Training grounds emerged.
Libraries assembled themselves.
Medical wings expanded.
Defense towers locked into place.
Within minutes...
An enormous fortress stood proudly before them.
Ancient...
Yet futuristic.
At its highest tower...
Massive glowing letters appeared.
KHAGMAS
Everyone stared silently.
"It..."
Mia whispered.
"...looks just like the Heroes' Lair."
"It is," Lee Kang replied softly.
"Or rather..."
"Its ancestor."
The great gates slowly opened.
The group cautiously entered.
Everything inside was already active.
Blue lights illuminated the halls.
Ancient machinery hummed peacefully.
Suddenly—
A beam of light projected into the center of the room.
Commander Pius appeared.
Not physically.
A hologram.
"Congratulations."
His recorded voice echoed throughout the fortress.
"If you are seeing this..."
"Then KHAGMAS has been successfully deployed."
The hologram began explaining everything.
How to activate the magical generators.
How to operate the medical chambers.
How to construct roads using mana-powered machinery.
How to purify water.
How to build schools.
How to train soldiers.
How to preserve knowledge.
How to combine ancient magic with future engineering.
For weeks...
The four friends worked tirelessly.
Armin joined them.
The Time Fairy assisted wherever she could.
Villagers from across Azura gathered.
Stone roads spread across the kingdom.
Hospitals were built.
Libraries opened.
Mana-powered irrigation transformed barren farmland into thriving fields.
Crystal lamps illuminated streets at night.
Academies trained both warriors and scholars.
Trade flourished once again.
The kingdom slowly rose from its ashes.
The scars left by war gradually disappeared.
Months later...
Ancient Azura stood stronger than it had ever been.
Children once again played through peaceful streets.
Families rebuilt their homes.
The Kingdom lived.
Balance had returned...
To Azura.
But...
Far beyond the horizon...
Eight Realm Stones still remained scattered across the universe.
The Earth Realm.
The Wolf Realm.
The Sky Realm.
The Ocean Realm.
The Spirit Realm.
The Inferno Realm.
The Celestial Realm.
And the Shadow Realm.
Azura had found peace.
The Realms...
Had not.
The journey of the Dragon Guardians...
Was far from over.